TV glossary from A to Z: every term explained simply

How to read this glossary

Terms are arranged alphabetically, with numbers first. Where a topic deserves more than a definition, we refer you to the article explaining it in detail. Names followed by a brand in brackets are commercial names: they often designate a technology that other brands sell under a different name.

0-9

• 4K (UHD) : 3,840 × 2,160 pixels, four times Full HD. It is the standard for all TVs from 43 inches up. See 4K, 8K and upscaling.
• 8K : 7,680 × 4,320 pixels. In 2026, Samsung is the only major manufacturer selling them, and there is almost no 8K content.
• 24p : cinema is shot at 24 frames per second. A 120 Hz panel displays it without uneven judder, as 120 is a multiple of 24.

A

• AirPlay : Apple's system for sending a video, photo or music from an iPhone, iPad or Mac to the TV. Available on LG, Samsung, Philips, Hisense and others.
• ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode): the TV switches to game mode automatically when the console turns on, then returns to normal mode. Convenient, with no setup needed.
• Ambilight (Philips): LEDs at the back project the image's colours onto the wall. The screen looks bigger and your eyes tire less in the dark. Exclusive to Philips.
• AmbiScape (Philips): Ambilight also controls connected bulbs in the room.
• Viewing angle : does the picture stay good when you sit off to the side? Excellent on OLED, good on IPS panels, weaker on VA.
• Anti-glare : surface treatment of the screen to limit reflections from windows and lamps. Decisive next to a large window.
• ARC : HDMI port that sends the TV's sound back to a soundbar. Limited to compressed audio (Dolby Digital Plus). See eARC.

B

• Blooming (halo) : a faint glow around a bright object on a black background (subtitles, stars). Affects local-dimming LCD screens, not OLED.
• BT.2020 : the colour palette targeted by HDR films. The more of it a TV covers, the richer the colours. RGB models claim close to 100%.
• Burn-in : see Image retention.

C

• Calibrated (mode) : picture mode set to respect the colours intended by studios (Filmmaker, Cinema, Studio Calibrated on Sony). The most accurate.
• Casting (Google Cast, Chromecast) : send a video from your smartphone app to the TV. Built into Google TV and webOS 2026.
• CEC (HDMI-CEC) : one remote to control the TV, soundbar and set-top box. Each brand gives it a name: Anynet+ (Samsung), SimpLink (LG), Bravia Sync (Sony), EasyLink (Philips).
• CI+ : slot at the back of the TV for a module and operator card (mainly satellite). Less and less useful in Belgium.
• Contrast : gap between the brightest white and the deepest black. Infinite on OLED, from 1,000:1 (IPS) to 7,000:1 (VA) on an LCD without local dimming.

D

• DCI-P3 : colour palette of digital cinema, smaller than BT.2020. A good HDR TV covers more than 90%.
• DLG (Dual Line Gate): a trick that doubles the displayed frequency (240 or 288 Hz) by halving the vertical resolution. A marketing point, useful only to a few PC gamers.
• Dolby Atmos : three-dimensional sound, with effects coming from overhead. The TV decodes it, but a compatible soundbar reproduces it far better.
• Dolby Vision : HDR format that adjusts the picture scene by scene. Used by Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV and many 4K Blu-ray discs. Samsung doesn't support it.
• Dolby Vision 2 : new version launched in 2026, in two tiers (Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max). Arrives on Hisense, TCL and Philips via software update, not on LG or Sony in 2026.
• Dolby Vision IQ : Dolby Vision adjusts the picture to the room's light using a sensor.
• DTS:X : a 3D sound format competing with Dolby Atmos, common on Blu-ray discs. Support varies by brand.
• DVB-T2, DVB-C, DVB-S2 : the tuners for aerial (digital terrestrial TV, TNT), cable and satellite. See receiving TV in Belgium.

E

• eARC : an upgraded version of ARC. It sends high-quality audio to the soundbar or amplifier (full Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X). Essential if your sources are plugged into the TV.
• Edge LED : backlighting from LEDs along the edges of the screen. Slim and cheap, but less uniform.
• Soap opera effect : an overly smooth, “home video” look caused by motion smoothing. See refresh rate and smoothness.
• EPREL : the European energy label database, accessible via the QR code on the label. See energy consumption and energy label.

F

• Filmmaker Mode : a picture mode created with filmmakers: it switches off the “enhancements” that distort the film. Our first setting tip.
• FreeSync (AMD): tear-free image system (VRR) for AMD graphics cards and Xbox consoles. Premium and Premium Pro tiers.
• Full Array : LEDs spread behind the entire panel, more uniform than Edge LED. Essential for true local dimming.
• Full HD : 1,920 × 1,080 pixels. Sufficient for a 24 to 32-inch screen, or for a bedroom.

G

• Glare Free (Samsung): matte anti-reflection coating on high-end OLED and Micro RGB models. Very effective in bright rooms.
• Google TV : Google's Smart TV system (Sony, TCL, Thomson, some Hisense). The largest choice of apps, including those of Telenet, VOO and Orange.
• Local dimming : see Local dimming.
• G-Sync Compatible (NVIDIA): VRR certified for NVIDIA graphics cards. Mainly found on LG and Philips OLEDs.

H

• HDMI 2.0 : the standard HDMI port, 4K at 60 frames per second. Enough for the set-top box, Apple TV and Blu-ray player.
• HDMI 2.1 : 48 Gbit/s, for 4K at 120 Hz and above, VRR and ALLM. Useful for PS5, Xbox Series X and PC. See HDMI and connections.
• HDMI 2.2 : the next standard (96 Gbit/s). No TV has it in 2026; the first devices are expected in 2027.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range): an extended dynamic range picture, with brighter whites and more shades in the shadows. See HDR, Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
• HDR10 : the basic HDR format, read by all HDR TVs.
• HDR10+ : scene-by-scene HDR, used by Prime Video. Samsung, Philips, Hisense and TCL support it; LG and Sony do not.
• HEVC (H.265) : a video compression format. Required to receive RTBF's digital terrestrial broadcasts.
• HGiG : an HDR setting for gaming: the console sets the brightness itself, without the TV adding any.
• HLG : HDR for live broadcasts (TV, YouTube). Supported by all HDR TVs.
• Hz (hertz) : the number of images the panel displays per second. 50/60 Hz at entry level, 100/120 Hz for smoothness and gaming.

I

• IMAX Enhanced : certification for films remastered in IMAX format, with DTS sound. Found on Hisense and TCL.
• Input lag : the delay between pressing the controller and the action on screen. Under 10 ms is excellent; over 40 ms is noticeable.
• IPS : an LCD panel type with wide viewing angles, but lower contrast. Handy for a corner sofa.

L

• LCD : a screen that filters the light from a backlight. LED, QLED, Mini LED and RGB Mini LED are all LCDs.
• LED : on a TV, it refers to an LCD lit by LEDs. Nothing to do with OLED.
• Motion smoothing : the TV invents intermediate frames to smooth motion. Good for sport, best switched off for films.
• Local dimming (local dimming): the backlight is divided into zones that switch on or off depending on the picture. The more zones there are, the better the blacks and the less blooming there is.

M

• Burn-in (burn-in): a permanent mark left on an OLED by a static image displayed for hundreds of hours (news channel logo, game interface). Low risk with varied use.
• MEMC : the technical name for motion smoothing (TCL, Hisense, Thomson).
• Micro RGB (Samsung, LG): LCD backlighting with microscopic red, green and blue LEDs. The high-end LCD of 2026. This is not MicroLED.
• MicroLED : a self-emissive screen with microscopic LEDs, one per sub-pixel. Priced in five or six figures: not a consumer product in 2026.
• Mini LED : an LCD lit by thousands of very small LEDs, so lots of zones. Very bright, with no standard branding. See Mini LED and QLED explained.
• Game Mode : a mode that switches off image processing to minimise input lag.

N

• NanoCell (LG): LG LCD with a nanoparticle colour filter, entry level.
• Nits (cd/m²) : unit of brightness. 500 nits: modest HDR. 1,000 nits and above: convincing HDR. 2,000 and above: high-end.

O

• OLED : each pixel produces its own light and switches off completely. Perfect blacks, no halo, wide viewing angles. See OLED explained.
• OLED evo (LG): brand name for brighter LG OLEDs (C, G, W series).
• One Connect (Samsung): separate box that houses all the sockets, connected to the screen by a thin cable or wirelessly. Ideal for wall mounting. LG offers the wireless equivalent, Zero Connect.

P

• Pixel shift (pixel shifting): the OLED moves the image very slightly to prevent burn-in. Invisible to the eye.
• Processor : the chip that processes picture and sound (α11 at LG, NQ4 at Samsung, XR at Sony, P5 at Philips, AiPQ at TCL, Hi-View at Hisense). It matters just as much as the panel.

Q

• QD-OLED : quantum dot OLED from Samsung Display (Samsung S95H, Sony Bravia 8 II). Very bright colours, extreme viewing angles.
• QLED : LCD with a quantum dot layer for more vivid colours. Brand name (Samsung, TCL, Hisense, Philips): does not guarantee local dimming or 120 Hz.
• QMS : prevents the one-second blackout when the source changes refresh rate (film, menu).
• QNED (LG): LG quantum dot LCD, often Mini LED on the 'evo' series.
• Quantum dots : nanocrystals that convert blue light into very pure red and green.

R

• Resolution : number of pixels in the image (HD, Full HD, 4K, 8K).
• RGB Mini LED : Mini LED whose backlight uses separate red, green and blue LEDs. Richer colours at high brightness. See RGB Mini LED and Micro RGB.

S

• SDR : standard picture, non-HDR (live TV, most programmes).
• Smart TV : internet-connected TV with apps. Platforms: webOS, Tizen, Google TV, Titan OS, VIDAA.
• SQD-Mini LED (TCL): Mini LED with enhanced quantum dots ('Super Quantum Dot').
• Subpixel : each pixel is made up of small red, green and blue dots (and white in WOLED).

T

• Tandem (Primary RGB Tandem): OLED panel with several stacked layers, brighter and more durable. On LG G6, C6 77 and 83-inch, Philips OLED+ 911 and 951.
• Titan OS : Smart TV platform across the whole Philips 2026 range. Simple and smooth, with a smaller app catalogue.
• Tizen : Samsung's Smart TV platform, with 7 years of updates promised.
• DTT : aerial television. In Wallonia and Brussels, RTBF broadcasts its channels free of charge in DVB-T2 HEVC.
• True RGB (Sony): Sony's name for RGB Mini LED (Bravia 9 II and 7 II).
• Tuner : the built-in receiver for aerial, cable or satellite.

U

• Upscaling : the processor converts HD footage to 4K by recreating missing detail, now with AI. It's what determines the quality of live TV.

V

• VA : LCD panel type with good contrast but narrower viewing angles. Ideal for watching head-on.
• VESA : standard for the mounting holes on the back of the TV (for example 300 × 300 mm). See mounting your TV on the wall.
• VIDAA : Hisense's Smart TV platform, fast and simple, with up to 8 years of updates promised.
• VRR (Variable Refresh Rate): the TV matches the exact frame rate of the console or PC. Removes screen tearing and stutter in games.

W

• webOS : LG's Smart TV platform, with a pointer remote and 5 years of new versions (Re:New).
• Wi-Fi 6 / 6E : newer, more stable Wi-Fi, found on high-end models. An Ethernet cable remains the most reliable option.
• WOLED : LG Display OLED with white subpixel (LG, Philips, Sony Bravia 6, some Samsung sizes). Very deep blacks, even in a lit room.

Z

• Local dimming zones : number of independent backlight zones. From a few dozen on entry-level models to more than 20,000 on the TCL X11L.

TVs to bring these terms to life

OLED TV LG OLED55C64LA€1,438.00OLED TV SAMSUNG TQ65S95H€2,415.00LED TV SONY K65XR95M2PB€2,633.00OLED+ TV PHILIPS 65OLED911/12€2,591.00QLED TV TCL 65C89L€1,799.00MINILED TV HISENSE 65UR8S€1,481.00TV LED SAMSUNG TMR65R85H€1,879.00OLED TV SONY K55A65PB€1,193.00

Trade names mentioned belong to their respective brands. Features vary from model to model: the product sheet is the reference.

Frequently asked questions